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kinesis Inner circle Scotland, surrounded by 2708 Posts |
Okay, I've recorded the first two episodes of 'Impossible'. I've just watched the first one.
From a mentalists point of view - Good routines, good premises, very clean effects. From a viewer of a game show. BORING! The show dragged along. No real tension The presenter failed to build any genuine excitment, there was just no change of pace. My wife hated it. I know this might upset a few people, but it's my opinion, as most seemed to enjoy it I hope it proves to be a hit with the public. I will continue to watch the rest of the series and let you know if I change me mind. Derek |
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mindpunisher Inner circle 6132 Posts |
Ok I got around to watching it on catch up TV. I personally really liked it. I loved the studio set up and I thought Philip had a really good presence. However my mother was watching it and said it was "rubbish" because she reckoned he could make it impossible or possible. She said it was just all "tricks".
However I really did enjoy it. The only thing I think that is flawed about the idea is that everying that Philip did was impossible without gimmiks or tricks. Really the questions should have been " Is it possible to fake this?" I even found myself thinking that someone somewhere could build a roulette wheel to pull off the "impossible" stunt. I think the best thing about the show is it has moved away from street filmed and big production mentalism and back to just a mentalist and a couple of spectators. I would like to see more magic shows do this. |
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Thomas Cooper Special user 935 Posts |
The show is being bashed quite a bit on tv critic forums. While its not being compared to terrible tv, and its not getting 1 star reviews; its certainly not got the forum boards of NON-magicians excited like it has us.
I call myself "Thomas Cooper" here because this stops the magic café appearing when people google my stage name.
Does anyone else find the term "Special User" to be a bit condescending? |
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Caliban Special user 727 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-05-22 10:52, mindpunisher wrote: And (with the possible exception of the roulette wheel) everything he failed to do was possible with gimmicks or tricks. It's not so much, 'is it possible to fake this?' as 'we could have faked this if we'd wanted to - but did we?' That's my problem with the format as a game show. Even if Max Maven and Derren Brown had been the two contestants, they would probably have got the murder challenge wrong in the last show because, while it was easily possible to do it by cheating, they chose not to cheat. Philip comes across really well as host, though. |
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Ruairidh Regular user London 200 Posts |
Just a heads up...if you're in America...you CAN watch them on youtube. Just download one of the many programs that hides your location...allowing you to watch blocked content. Hotspot shield is my personal preference.
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phillsmiff Inner circle UK 1794 Posts |
Hi guys, its not my job to defend the format, but I do want to clarify something that will probably kick the hornets nest: the question in the show was never 'did we fake it or not', it was 'is it possible to create this outcome or not *under these conditions*'. For each of the items that were 'impossible' there were very specific conditions that precluded any of the methods we as mentalists and magicians use, in just the same way that there were very specific conditions that permitted the methods that made the possibles possible.
So, for example, with the roulette wheel, we could conceivably (as has been suggested by lay people I have spoken to) had a set of magnetic balls and a rigged wheel. BUT, (as was explained at the live show but apparently cut from the broadcast edit) the table was rented from a casino in London: we didn't have any access to it before that day, and the lady you see in the show acting as croupier was a staff member from that casino who physically stayed with the table the whole time it was on set. And a magnet was on hand to test the plastic balls, precluding that possibility. The impossible challenges were some of the hardest to come up with because with the team we had almost anything could be done with the right conditions. We had to create the exact wrong conditions: The work for us was in coming up with a way to present the challenge in such a way that there genuinely was no possible way to do it. This meant changing the order things happened in, who holds which prop when and where, what Escoffey says, how choices are made by the players... in the end it was quite a technical exercise, so it isn't terribly surprising that some of our exhaustive book-keeping ended up on the cutting room floor. Whether you believe this or not or consider it relevant, I am certain that if Max Maven and Derren Brown had come on the show they would have been able to use the logic we all use to construct our effects to deconstruct the challenges and go into the endgame with the full £40k. Whether they could beat the endgame though, who knows. Phill
The new Elysian Duets, marked cards featuring my unique Optical Marking System:
-+: https://phillsmithcreative.com/products/elysian-duets :+- |
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mindpunisher Inner circle 6132 Posts |
I think the production values were great and I really enjoyed the show. However the problem with things like the roulette wheel being borrowed from a Casino loses its relevance when you didn't borrow the coloured cubes from a toy shop. In order for it to really work you would have to be congruent throughout the show and with all the props. And of course it wasn't possible. This wasn't really a proper money quiz type show and it wasn't a magic show it was somewhere in between.
I think it was a great idea and the team did a great job. There is just something not right with the basic premise. However at the end of the day it remains to be seen if it is a commercial success. And I hope it does really well. I loved the effect with the marked coin and the reactions of the contestants. A difficult programme to keep going after this series I would've thought trying to find fresh effects all the time. However Im really jaded with TV mentalism and usually switch off at least this kept me watching. |
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Davit Sicseek Inner circle 1818 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-05-22 14:55, Ruairidh wrote: That is a infringement of intellectual property. You shouldn't be publicising such action here. People say and do similar with regard to Derren Brown specials. Really they should be waiting for them to be released on DVD (as almost all of them have) and buy them.
Send me the truth: davitsicseek@gmail.com
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Davit Sicseek Inner circle 1818 Posts |
Quote:
For each of the items that were 'impossible' there were very specific conditions that precluded any of the methods we as mentalists and magicians use, in just the same way that there were very specific conditions that permitted the methods that made the possibles possible. What about the video prediction in episode one? I was convinced that was possible with some near real time CGI and was surprised when it was deemed impossible. I've not rewatched the episode in relation to what you've said here - but is that effect covered by what you've said. It seems to be a case of "we could have faked this if we'd wanted to - but did we?" as mentioned. Liked Philip as a presenter. That tall fireman from episode one though... what a tool.
Send me the truth: davitsicseek@gmail.com
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Thomas Cooper Special user 935 Posts |
"That tall fireman from episode one though... what a tool."
Why was he a tool?
I call myself "Thomas Cooper" here because this stops the magic café appearing when people google my stage name.
Does anyone else find the term "Special User" to be a bit condescending? |
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Mind New user Bedfordshire, UK 76 Posts |
How many episodes are in this series?
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Thomas Cooper Special user 935 Posts |
6 episodes. Most series in Britain have 6, as does this.
I call myself "Thomas Cooper" here because this stops the magic café appearing when people google my stage name.
Does anyone else find the term "Special User" to be a bit condescending? |
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Mind New user Bedfordshire, UK 76 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-05-23 10:23, Thomas Cooper wrote: Thanks. I'm enjoying this programme. |
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phillsmiff Inner circle UK 1794 Posts |
Well, the show *should* be on tonight. Channel 5 were fairly happy with the viewing figures but they could have been higher, so: they have decided to air the remainder of the series after Big Brother, which they have recently acquired and which they will be showing in... August! So that's great.
Let's put this thread into cryostorage then, and defrost it in another three months? Phill (gutted)
The new Elysian Duets, marked cards featuring my unique Optical Marking System:
-+: https://phillsmithcreative.com/products/elysian-duets :+- |
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Rus ANDREWS Inner circle 1451 Posts |
That's a shame, I thought the show was great, and gave me something to look forward to watching in the week.
Gutted aswel. R |
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Shrubsole Inner circle Kent, England 2455 Posts |
"Well, the show *should* be on tonight."
Doesn't look that way as the Sky planner is saying there is a film on at 10pm. Typical messing about that we have come to expect from TV companies now. Breaks in shows is normal in America but we never had them here as viewers just wouldn't put up with them. Seem another American TV trend that is being forced upon us. Poor conduct Channel 5! (You might end up losing the few viewers that you have now) Here is where you should address your complaints to Channel 5: http://about.channel5.com/customer-servi......nquiries
Winner of the Dumbringer Award for total incompetence. (All years)
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phillsmiff Inner circle UK 1794 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-05-26 07:32, Shrubsole wrote: Well, my point was that the show should be on tonight but isn't. Sorry if that wasn't clear? Phill
The new Elysian Duets, marked cards featuring my unique Optical Marking System:
-+: https://phillsmithcreative.com/products/elysian-duets :+- |
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Looch Inner circle Off by 3362 Posts |
I was enjoying the show, it was coming from a different angle and bringing something fresher than the stale cr4p dished up on BBC1 "The Magicians"
Disappointing
Mentalism Products: https://www.readmymind.co.uk/ Learn Mentalism with the Pro's: https://www.mymind.rocks
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mindpunisher Inner circle 6132 Posts |
I really enjoyed the show too but perhaps if it had been done as a magic show without the money quiz it may have been more successful? I loved the sets the intamacy and really liked Escofey. I think that part was definately moving in the right direction. From what I have heard from other lay people who normally love money quiz shows it didn't work for them. Although it was a good idea and some creative thinking it may have gave out mixed messages. Might have got higher ratings as a magic/mentalism show. Then again who knows. its not an easy nut to crack. I could see a show in that format with guests every week doing well. At least its something I would really want to see. I would imagine you only get one chance.
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Jonathan C Regular user 117 Posts |
I'm not sure what angers me more... The show being postponed or big brother coming back.
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